The Israeli army spokesperson said Monday that the victims of the strike that targeted the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1 were “terrorists” committed against Israel, providing the first official comment from the army on this struck.
“Those killed in Damascus were members of the Quds Force. These are people engaged in terrorism against the State of Israel,” Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said at a press conference in response to a question. “Among these terrorist agents were members of Hezbollah and Iranian aides. There wasn't a single diplomat that I know of. I am not aware of any civilians who were killed in this attack,” he added.
The raid destroyed the Iranian consulate on April 1 and killed 16 people, including seven members of the Revolutionary Guard Corps, the ideological army of the Islamic Republic, including two senior officers.
An unprecedented attack
Tehran and Damascus blamed Israel for the strike, which has never confirmed its responsibility. Iran had promised to respond to the attack which exacerbated regional tensions, against a backdrop of war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas.
On Saturday, almost two weeks after the strike on Damascus, Iran launched from its territory a massive salvo of drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles on Israel, an attack without precedent in the history of the two countries.
Israel, with the United States but also France, the United Kingdom and Jordan in particular, opposed an air defense barrage which made it possible to intercept “99%” of the projectiles, according to Israel.
Only the Nevatim military base was lightly hit in southern Israel. Visiting this base on Monday, the chief of staff of the Israeli army, Herzi Halevi, promised a “response” to the Iranian attack.